# Why is there so little Expressionist architecture?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-so-little-expressionist-architecture/339365>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [January 10, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-so-little-expressionist-architecture/339365 "2006-01-10T20:16:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-so-little-expressionist-architecture/339365/1 "2006-01-10T20:16:33Z")

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From the Wikipedia article on Expressionism – [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressionism:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressionism:)

> [@](#):
>
> In architecture, two specific buildings are identified as expressionist: Bruno Taut’s Glass Pavilion at the Cologne Werkbund Exhibition (1914), and Erich Mendelsohn’s Einstein Tower in Potsdam, Germany completed in 1921. Hans Poelzig’s Berlin theatre interior for Max Reinhardt is also sometimes cited.

That’s it? Only three examples, one of them doubtful?

Is there something about the Expressionist esthetic that doesn’t translate well into architecture?

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**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-so-little-expressionist-architecture/339365/2 "2006-01-10T21:19:01Z")

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Because crazily slanting walls, painted-on shadows, and teeny misshapen windows tend to [freak people out](http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Bungalow/1204/Images/caligari.jpg)?

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**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-so-little-expressionist-architecture/339365/3 "2006-01-10T22:26:25Z")

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Your cite is more a reflection on Wikipedia’s limited usefulness than on the state of Expressionist Architecture. Google the term for more examples.

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**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-so-little-expressionist-architecture/339365/4 "2006-01-10T23:23:39Z")

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Since **lissener** couldn’t be arsed, here’s a [survey](http://www.greatbuildings.com/types/styles/expressionist.html), with pictures. Not all Expressionist architecture was German. There’s Gaudí in Spain, for example.